What are some of the most common complaints you’ve heard about professional development? I’ve heard:

• This is not applicable to my class/subject/grade level/students/etc.
• My time could be better-spent grading or planning.
• I already know this.
• This is so theoretical. How does it actually apply to my classroom?

One of my favorite solutions to these conundrums is a “Critical Friends Group” (CFG), where the entire faculty is split up randomly into groups of four to six teachers. They do not need to be of the same grade level or subject area. In fact, having a heterogeneous group often brings out more creative ideas and helps build connections across typical school silos.

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